Friday, May 9, 2008

I'm a Eucalyptus Loving Sucker

I feel like it's been foooorever since I've been here! Ooooh, I've missed you little blog (smooch, smooch, smooch)! Okay...here's another sorta confession. I *might* feel better after I talk (rant, cry, stomp my feet, throw my fist in the air with a "Whhhhhy????!")! I really need to laugh about this.

Okay, so on Tuesday I took my girlies to Great Clips to get haircuts (obviously). We've got dance pictures and recitals coming up pronto, so I had to get to it. Plus, they keep running into walls and everything. I think they'd like to be able to see. So anyway...All is well over at Great Clips. The girls got *the cutest* haircuts...little bobs...with style for only $8.99. I had coupons. Anyway, they look good AND they got lollipops to boot.

Well, I've been growing my hair long and I'm really liking the length (more importantly, my hubby is). But my split ends have split ends. And then some. So basically, I realized that I needed a little trim. But what does Momma do? Do I use the Great Clips coupon in my purse and get my hair trimmed right then and there for like $4.00 or something blissful like that? Nooooooo! I pack my little Bobbie twins up, lollipops and all, and drive two blocks up the road to another salon. A saaaaaalon. You know, very fancy pants. Not my usual hang out. My girlfriend gets her haircut there, and I've been wanting to check it out, plus I *have* to do everything she does. No really, I did want to check it out. It's a new place. And Momma doesn't get out much. So I thought, what the heck...it's only a trim.

So I take my little beauty queens in with me (it's like 5:30 mind you), toting lollies, and the place is empty. Well, next to like four stylists standing around talking. Did I mention this was very fancy pants? It was all black and metal and glass. And there were like twenty stations. And the stylists had on cool black aprons. And they really looked like stylists (like what you see on TV). Well, they looked us over (I'm suuuure they were just loving the lollies) and continued with their convo. So after like five minutes, "Ciera" comes out of the back (I hadn't seen her before) and I tell her I'd like a "trim." There was a moment there, when she looked back at me that I was pretty sure in her head she was thinking, What a sucker, doesn't she know Great Clips is two blocks away? Then she sweeps (cuz we're in a saaaaaalon) me back with her to her station. My girls follow, sticky faces and all. I ask Ciera if it's okay my girls are with me. Oh suuuuuure! They each take a seat and immediately start to spin in the chairs on either side of Ciera's station. I just keep thinking, "It's just a trim, it's just a trim. It'll be quick." So Ciera and I agree that we're only taking about 1/2" off...just cleaning it up. So we go back and wash my hair. And for five minutes I forget that my girls are skipping through the salon, twirling, and shaking their little booties. That my hubby's out of town for the bazillionth time. That I don't know what I'm making for dinner. That I'm having palpitations. That I just heard something break. I'm ignoring. I'm ignoring. It's just me and the Eucalyptus shampoo. My head is warm and cool all at the same time, tingly. It smells wonderful. So nice. So very, very nice.

So we head to the station and I motion for my girls to come sit back down Right flipping now! Cuz of course they broke one of those plastic business card holders. "Just add it to my bill." It's only a trim. So two minutes later (a grand total of seven minutes since we walked through the front door), we're done and Ciera is saying something about it being $40 and I can just pay cash right there or she take my card up. I was busy swinging my curly, wet hair back and forth, to smell that Eucalyptus again (I think I was fantasizing about Australia--happens all the time). "What'd you saaaaay, honey?" I ask and she repeats the $40 part. $40!!!! How much do plastic business card holders cost anyway?? $40? 1/2" costs $40!!! I'm stunned! I knew it wasn't gonna be $8.99, but $40? I could cry right then and there. My hubby is going to kill me AND he's not even gonna notice I got a trim. I could have gotten a shampoo, haircut, colored, AND hair product w/tip to boot at Great Clips for this! So, I pull out my emergency credit card (cuz she might have to call 911 here in a sec, you know heart palpitations and all) and follow Ciera up to the front. I add an $8.00 tip, cuz clearly I am out of my mind at this point and TAKE HER BUSINESS CARD! Cuz you know, I'll be back. Sheeeeyeah!

I Zombie walk out of there, skipping, sticky girls in tow (oblivious to the fact that Momma is about to have a break down), and load them up in the car. Then I drive ten parking spaces over, park and we head into New Season's (fancy pants grocery store) and pay $17.48 for dinner, cuz I'm stiiiiill out of my mind (and just apparently made of money). We sit at New Season's and eat our grilled cheese and buttered noodles and I just breathe that Eucalyptus scent in (to calm myself down and count down the minutes until we're home and I have that very big glass of wine). Then I rationalize that the shampoo alone might've been worth $48 dollars. Thank yoooou, Ciera.

I need help.

58 comments:

Candid Carrie said...

Alright, that was a really funny story (because it didn't happen to me). The entire ordeal should be put into one of the MasterCard commercial ... smelling my Eucalyptus-scented hair while eating grill cheese, priceless.

Sunshine said...

Ha ha, Carrie! That is so true! Indeed...priceless!

Thanks for the comment!

Now, I'm off to your blog. :)

Tiffany said...

I so know this story. I call it an impulse cut. I regret it every time. $40 for a trim and she didn't even blow dry you.. that is robbery, even if it does smell like eucalyptus...

Sunshine said...

Good to know I'm not the first person to do this. I'm gonna need another grilled cheese.

Kitty said...

Live and learn right? You deserved the moment though. Next time buy the shampoo and get the cheapie cut. The shampoo lasts longer.
HUGS

Chandra said...

Very funny. You do know that you're changed a woman right? Once you've had a $40 trim you can't ever go back to any old SuperCuts or Snip & Clip.

But it is SO worth it EVERY SINGLE TIME!

Jen said...

I LOVE going to the salon if for nothing else the hair shampoo. It feels so good and takes me away for a minute of bliss (hairgasm!). You shouldn't feel bad for this. You deserve it, we all deserve it. I too only wish it didn't cost so much. But once every 6 weeks or least is more than justifiable.

my2boyz said...

Well.guess I do not feel so bad now THANKS! My haircuts cost the same and now I bring my boys to the salon where my cuts are $38.00. And NO the boys cuts are not that much only $12.50! Happy SITS day!

Anonymous said...

LOL I love this post! Getting your hair shampooed has to be one of life's luxuries!! ;)

I like what Carrie said about making it into a commercial LOL

Debbie said...

Tee heee heee ha ha ha ha. That was a great story...$40 and no blow dry? You're kidding right? That better have been the best stinking shampoo of your life...and I'll bet that was THE best glass of wine you had when you got home!

Unknown said...

Get thee to your nearest Bath & Body Works store and buy some of their Eucalyptus & Spearmint shampoo. Last bottle only cost me about $10 and it smells soooo heavenly!

Melissa Lester said...

Oh, my hubbie hates for me to spend money on my hair! My stylist actually comes to my house (great since I have four children) to give me highlights and the works, but every time Joe sees the check stub, he says, "I cannot believe you pay that for a haircut!" I guess that's why I wait three months before doing it again!

Karen said...

So sorry!
I'm a hairstylist and so I see this all the time! Right now I work at home and really enjoy it, but the biggest complaint I hear next to "they didn't do what I wanted", is about the cost!
I even gag when I go to a salon!

angela | the painted house said...

Ugh, sticker shock, huh? Glad you enjoyed the shampoo!

Gina said...

Ohhhhh, I can SO RELATE!!!!!! We are such SUCKERS for the whole "salon experience".
Ugh!!!!

Sherri said...

Well at least you got some good smellin' out of it!! I have resorted to going to the corner cheap place for my haircuts-sadly - Wow $40 for a trim!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh, honey, I've been there, too! The modern designed spa/salon, the tiny stylists with perfect hair and 4 inch heels, and the giant price tag that goes along with sitting in that chair! $140 for HALF highlights and a hair cut! But I get 'em back--my hair is so thick that it takes 40 minutes to dry and straighten it out--and I ALWAYS ask them to straighten it out. Gotta get my money's worth!

(So sad that the uppity "stylists" and the girls at Master Cuts graduated from the same local beauty school, huh?)

Rhea said...

Cute story! I would be terrified to bring my boys in one though. And, I can't believe she didn't dry your hair! But, having that lovely smelling hair for a day or two would be worth it...now go find a cheaper equivalent, good smelling shampoo!! :o)

Adiel | Rose Gold Lining said...

Best part: "Plus, they keep running into walls and everything. I think they'd like to be able to see."

I can totally hear you saying "saaaaaaaalon" even though I've never heard your voice in my life.

Also, I think its totally worth spending good money on your hair. Its not like you take your hair off if you don't like it. ;)

Staci said...

ooo girl im totally with ya, i have this friend who is a fancy schmancy hair cutter, and by golly she is the best darn hair cutter there ever was....but holy HELL she is expensive!!! i literally got a few Highlights painted in my hair one time and a trim and i kid you not it was 2hundred

MomMega: mothersmilkblog.com said...

Oh I loooove getting my hair washed!! I know just how you feel. I buy the Enjoy brand shampoo, it smells minty/eucalyptusy and delicious!!

Lisa@BlessedwithGrace said...

OH I have been there. I love the way you tell the story.

Unknown said...

LOL I have been there too, it is like you just dont' know how to say no thank you and walk away, they put something special in that shampoo that turns your common sense right off LOL

katylinvw said...

been there! (not there, there, but you know . . .)
hope your SITS spotlight day is fabulous!

Jill said...

I used to go to great clips/famous hair/ best cuts, but I got tired of constantly trying to find a way to cover up the fact that my hair always had big chunks hacked out of it. Now I gladly fork over the $40 plus tip for a good cut, and I color myself at home!

Tam said...

OOOO too funny! I am an expensive hair cut junkie...lol just kidding!

Tami said...

Oh, I love the smell of my hair when I leave a REAL salon, too! They totally use that good stuff to distract you from the bill your paying! You know, cuz you're in a good smelling hair induced fog!

Funny story :)

Jenni said...

I get my hair done at a salon that costs a fortune (only every three months so my husband won't freak out too much) because the girl gives me a head massage while washing my hair. There is NOTHING better. I was so relaxed I almost got in an accident leaving the place last time!

Cecily R said...

So if a trim is $40 how much is a cut and style? Good grief!!

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

I will go to the saaalooon for a $40 trim *every* time. I have long hair,too. And it does just need a bit cut off to deal with the split ends. But Great Clips. Ummm...you should have seen the "asymetrical" trim that I go there. It's worth the money to have it done right. And for the shampoo. :-)

Swirl Girl said...

$40 for a trim? Sheez. I haven't been to a salon or cheap cuts place in a year. My grey has grey...I would rather splurge on things like food and gas.

www.swirlgirlspearls.blogspot.com

Crazy Momma said...

Oh man, I refuse to pay $40 for anything that can't be reused 100 times in my home (you know, dishes, furniture, etc). If I didn't barter for my hair care I would look like the shaggy dog right now...seriously!

But the shampoo....I buy a tea tree/peppermint kind...$8/bottle...worth EVERY penny!!

Nan said...

Don't they just look at us SAHM and KNOW that they should give us a trim for FREE! I mean, we don't have that kind of money!!! I get my hair cut about every 4 to 8 months! That is right... months!!! It is $40 also. Then a tip??? CRAZY!!!!

The Engert Family said...

I've been there! I paid close to that for EACH of my girls to get trims. They didn't even do a good job! Ah, live and learn.
(came from SITS)

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

BTW, that last comment was posted from my non-blogger account...this is my blogger account. :o)

Jennifer P. said...

You're paying for the AMBIANCE, of course. (did I even spell that right? Why don't they give us spell check for the comments...).


Anyhow, I hope it was the best darn trim you've ever gotten!

Hope you're LOVIN' your day in the SITSun :)!

Mrs. D said...

I've never had a bad haircut in my life... I've been going to the same person since my first real haircut style..(fancy pancy salon of course... and she has continually raised her prices to an amount I cannot even say out loud) I'm getting ready to move across the country and who is going to cut my hair???

Mary said...

I'm glad you got some enjoyment out of it...I'm sure you more than deserve it!

Pam Hawk said...

I got a cut a few days ago at a hair styling SCHOOL. $4.95 + a very appreciated $5.05 tip to the student. I figure my curly hair hides most sins.

I'm sure it does, too, because the only correction I've had to make is to lop some off from the side by my right ear. Ok, it was a whole inch. But my oh my, it does look good now!

(Am I brave, or just foolish?)

(No, I haven't had worked up the verve to use a mirror to check the back. None of my co-workers are laughing at my hair, so I'm pretty sure it's good.)

Judy Schwartz Haley | CoffeeJitters.Net said...

I think i actually paid $48 for shampoo once. She asked me if I wanted to get a bottle of shampoo *while* she was shampooing my hair. By the time i got to the counter to pay the bill, i was too in love with my new do to argue.

sneaky devil woman

THE Stephanie said...

Oh Sunshine... I won't even begin to tel you how much I pay to get my hair done... there's not any amount of eucalyptus that could help you rationalize it. But I do it everytime.

Alison said...

I think you should have at least gotten a blow dry so you could feel all shiny and glamorous. Maybe the price shock wouldn't have been quite so bad then. Okay, it would have, but still a blowdry would've been good.

Bethany said...

I took my five year old into a walk-in place here in town. She needed her bangs trimmed desperately but didn't want anything cut off the back. (She's still mad at me for having it cut too short for ponies.)
I had a bit of spare time so we popped in before grocery shopping. The woman spritzes her bangs with some water and trims them. She hands me a ticket to bring to the register. The bill is $28!! What? The cashier then explains they charge by the length of the haie and since my daughter's hair is shoulder length it is $28. I almost died. I don't pay $28 for myself never mind for a bang trim for my five year old!!

-Bridget said...

I had a lesson learned like that one time, but mine cost me $389. It goes like this: never, ever get your car detailed at the car wash next to the Maserati and Lamborghini dealerships. Let that and the fact that they don't post their prices be your first clues. I figure unless they used an entire bottle of Chanel n0. 5 for air freshner I got ripped off by about $369. But I did get a free bottle of water.

Nichole said...

that was SO funny! i love the little thoughts added in~i'll be back if there's more where this came from~ttttttterificccccc!

KatBouska said...

Oh that's the worst feeling. Sometimes I'll bring my purchases to the cash register and when I see the final price I can hust FEEL my face get hot and red, but I smile like, "oh yes, of course." and hand my card over and pound my head against the steering wheel all the way home.

But a haircut you can't take back.

Sucks.

Merrie said...

Yeah, that is ridiculous. I live in a small town, and pay $35 for a cut, dry and style. I don't blame you for being annoyed.

Laural Out Loud said...

My husband loves my hair, so he's okay with me spending money on it. So I do! Even though I get the most amazing cuts (and scalp massage), it's still hard to shell out $75 for a cut, plus tip, plus whatever they talk me into!

Melanie Dickens said...

Hilarious!! I have sooo done this. It hurts.

EmBee said...

Ciera? Sounds like a totally made up name for a frou frou hairdresser type. However, it's important to remember that once in a while a personal splurge is worth it... As long as you don't spend the latter part of it beating up on yourself.

Danielle said...

That stinks!

But at least the shampoo smelled niiiice...

ba doom cha!

(cheesy!)

Happy SITS day!!!

Michelle said...

Hee hee hee! I can't imagine trying to take my wee ones into a salon while I get my haircut. I'd never be able to truly enjoy the eucalyptus shampoo!

My latest solution is to go to an aesthetician's school. They do the cut and everything, taking lots of time (ahhh calming) and input from the supervisor (who usually ends up finishing the job off anyway) and paying... $9. But I really COULD go for that eucalyptus shampoo!

Jess NBP said...

whoa.. LOL u funny, chica. 40$'s bad. I just paid 33 on saturday, 22 for myself and 11 for my son to get hair cuts.

Finding Normal said...

That's just crazy. I don't do the fast food places, but my sorta salon cut is $20 plus tip. And I love my lady!

Tracy P. said...

Thankfully, my husband is the one who referred my to my hair stylist when we got married ten years ago. She of course has gotten WAY more expensive over the years, but I love her and she does a great job, SO...I now cut everyone else's hair in the family so I can afford to keep going to Barb. Sad, but true!

Mrs4444 said...

Hello, SITS sista! Loved this post; very funny (sorry!) and true-to-life :)

Jen said...

$40 for a trim?? Crazy!!

Missy said...

Girrrrl! How did you have only ONE glass of wine that night? I think that calls for an entire bottle. Maybe even through a straw! *wink*